Chemical vs Natural Pesticide Control
Applying chemical pesticides to your plants may not only be
toxic to your plant, but also to you. On the other hand, using
natural pesticides to rid your vegetable garden of unwanted
bugs can be time consuming, and not all natural remedies work
for every gardening situation.
To control pests in your vegetable garden without using any
form of pesticide, natural or chemical, you need to physically
pick the bugs off the plants several times a day. Some of these
plant-eating bugs feed at night. Therefore, you would need to
patrol your garden 24 hours a day picking bugs. This method of
pest control is very unlikely. So, if plant-eating bugs have
invaded your vegetable garden, you need to decide how to handle
the pests; use chemical pesticides or a find a natural organic
remedy.
Chemical pesticides will work in ridding the garden of unwanted
bugs. If used correctly, chemical pesticides claim to be safe
for use on foods that are consumed. The question remains, what
the long-term affects of these chemicals are. What are the
chemicals doing to the soil and the area around your garden
where rainfall and runoff occur? Could this pesticide affect
your water source? Can the chemical pesticide harm animals or
children if they come in contact with it? These questions
should be considered before choosing which chemical pesticide
you use.
On the other hand, while a chemical free, natural organic
garden, may take more time and effort, natural remedies for
pest control are less expensive. Most of the ingredients and
tools you would require are probably in your kitchen, or lying
around your house.
Vinegar is a very popular choice as a natural pesticide for bug
control in your garden. Vinegar has been tested as a weed and
grass killing herbicide with wonderful results. Therefore, take
caution when spraying on your vegetable plants. The vinegar may
indeed kill the bugs, but may also kill your plant as well.
Also insecticide soap has been proven to kill and deter pests.
Precautions must be taken when using soaps. If sprayed onto the
plant in full sun, it could burn the leaves. Also, the soap is
meant to be sprayed directly on the bugs. This remedy may take
several days to actually kill the bugs so keep an eye on the

plant destruction.
Garlic is also known to be a natural deterrent to the plant
eating bug population. Some bugs find their food through smell.
Garlic has a pungent odor and therefore bugs and plant eating
critters stay away.
Used coffee filters also deter bugs. Place the filter around
the base of the plant. Bugs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the feel of the paper or
the grounds, and wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t venture to the plant. Also, the filters
are biodegradable and the coffee that remains on the filters
contains beneficial Nitrogen.
Choosing natural methods of pest control in your garden will
take more time to maintain. But the fact remains, chemical free
gardens are better for you, your family, and the environment.